I’m supposed to be heading to the Grand Hall at Parliament for the launch of Ryan Malone’s book at 5-30 pm. Sadly I can’t go, because the Sergeant-at-Arms banned me from entering Parliament for 24 hours from 3 pm today.

With Catharine (my wife), John Boscawen, and a group of young people we put packing tape over our mouths to listen to H Clark’s session-opening speech from the visitors’ Gallery at Parliament this afternoon. We thought we’d help her to feel that things were heading in the right direction.

After all the Electoral Finance Act is designed to ensure the rude and ungrateful people listen to their political masters without interrrupting. We were entirely silent (obviously) and respectful. Yet we were removed. I have to contrast that with the treatment I’ve seen of haka and waiata. We did not wave our arms or shout threats.

Nevertheless we were firmly escorted out of the gallery, interviewed and told we could not return for 24 hours.

I felt sorry for my friends among the Parliamentary staff. They retain dignity despite what must be overwhelming incitements to repay Parliamentary behaviour in kind. Though we did not abuse any privileges, causing them awkwardness in having to deal with me was my only (tiny) regret.

H Clark will come to rue the day she forced through a law that criminalises attempts to engage in election debate from 1 January. The police are supposed to hunt down any ordinary New Zealander who dares to publish encouragement to another citizen to vote for a party without the written consent of that party .

If we can ensure the true scope of the law is widely understood she’ll have more to worry about than some gagged citizens watching her in Parliament. The voters should send a far more resounding message.

Comments

Jeez, I didn’t realise such an act was a bootable offence. I was in the gallery for the third reading of the Sign Language Bill and the rows were full of NZSL people having full-on conversations across the chamber with their mates using NZSL.

So it’s not a racial thing. It’s not even a cultural thing. Your ejection was political. You could always lodge a complaint with Parliamentray Services.

SeaMonkey
I do not know. I’d scanned Standing Orders in advance and thought we’d be fine if we were polite and caused no disturbance. But I did not mind, the sensitivity seemed to underscore the purpose of our attendance.

Graeme Edgeler

February 14th, 2008

8:50 am

I’d scanned Standing Orders in advance and thought we’d be fine if we were polite and caused no disturbance.

Had a quick look on the Parliament website and couldn’t find it, but I believe it’s in a Speaker’s Determination. Perhaps Speaker Kidd in 1997? I understand part of that determination is being looked at anew following the EFB protest in November.

I learned yesterday that the order to remove us was not the Sergeant at Arms’ initiative. The Speaker was seen to order him to have us removed.

Peter Bisley

February 16th, 2008

11:09 pm

Hey Stephen, this whole situation is rather pathetic. Clearly you were setting out for some publicity, and you got it, though whether it painted you in the light you desired could be a debatable point. I have friends who voted for you in the past who thought you were a man of both intellect and purpose, yet all you demonstrate in your correspondence upon this ‘incident’ is both a naivety and pettiness: whatever the nature of your demonstration, that is a valid reason for ejection from the chamber, as you would be able to deduce as a lawyer and former parliamentarian. Your attempts to paint it as a vast left-wing conspiracy are rather dull.

Peter Bisley

February 16th, 2008

11:18 pm

And your passing philistinic comments about two large domains of Maori performing art are so out of place that they are cringe-worthy without even considering the stunted apparatus of cultural evaluation that would produce such bigotry. Do you have any interesting comments about the real issues of today that aren’t being addressed by anyone, or are you too obsessed with your shallow facade of classical-liberal identity? Someone told me you were an inspired politician once…